Fourth Down and Love

Fourth Down and Love is an American romantic comedy sports TV film that premiered September 9, 2023, on the Hallmark Channel. Directed by Allan Harmon, the film stars Pascale Hutton and Ryan Paevey.^[1][2] The film was originally broadcast as part of the Hallmark Channel's "Fall Into Love" seasonal programming.^[3][4]

Fourth Down and Love
Written by	Chevy Burnett Shanda Lee Munson Julie Sherman Wolfe
Screenplay by	Julie Sherman Wolfe
Directed by	Allan Harmon
Starring	Pascale Hutton Ryan Paevey
Music by	Red Janes
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Doran Chandler Alexandre Coscas Michael R. Goldstein Aidan Heatley Ben C. Silverman Randy Tat Simon Richardson
Cinematography	Dan Dumouchel
Editor	Jason Hujber
Running time	84 minutes
Production companies	Hallmark Media Timeless Pictures Basset Hound Distribution
Original release
Network	Hallmark Channel
Release	September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09)

Plot

Mike Hanson (Ryan Paevey) is a player on the professional football team The Whalers, but when he gets seriously injured for the second time in the season, he is forced to go onto the injured reserve. While nursing his broken ribs, Mike returns to his hometown to stay at his brother's (Dan Payne) house. During this time, Mike is convinced to help coach his niece's (Piper Scott) all-girl flag football team.

Single mother Erin Allen (Pascale Hutton) is a real estate agent whose 12-year-old daughter Kiera (Sophia Powers) also plays in the flag football league. One day while sharing the field with another team during practice, Kiera notices the all-girl flag football team and asks her mother to let her join it and she agrees. When Erin goes over to ask the coach to let her daughter join, she realizes that Mike, her ex-boyfriend from college that she broke up with, is the one coaching the all-girl team. As Erin and Mike begin to spend time together again, their romantic past begins to resurface.

Cast

• Pascale Hutton as Erin Allen
• Ryan Paevey as Mike Hanson
• Sophia Powers as Keira Allen
• Dan Payne as Jimmy Hanson
• Steve Bacic as Richard
• Heather Doerksen as Danielle Hanson
• Kalyn Miles as Georgina
• Darlene Tait as Gertie Hanson
• Fred Henderson as Gus
• Piper Scott as Zoey Hanson
• Ian Ronningen as Bucks Flag Coach
• Darby Steeves as Kristina
• Cole Fairbank as Lucas
• Aaron Joseph as Referee
• Gemma Martini as Whaler Team Doctor
• David Stuart as Whaler General Manager
• Kimberley Sustad as Sideline Reporter
• Benjamin Wilkinson as Announcer
• Adil Zaidi as Commentator

Production

Principal photography took place entirely in Vancouver between May and June 2023. The football stadium used in the film was the McLeod Athletic Park in the Township of Langley.^[5]

Reception

Fourth Down and Love debuted on the Hallmark Channel to 1.58 million viewers.^[6]

Southern Living presented the film as follows: "In addition to the rekindled romance, Mike bonds with the young women on the team and teaches them how to gain more confidence on and off the field."^[7] Decider compared the film with other productions, "There’s a lot of Hallmark’s Hearts in the Game here, especially the fact that the leads start as exes rather than strangers. If the movie focused more on the kids and Coach Mike, the pro-coaches-kids storyline could feel more Mighty Ducks-ish" and wrote that the film offered "no real surprises plot-wise and pretty much adheres to every trope you expect from both a Hallmark romance and a kid-centric sports movie."^[8]